Maryland DNR Fisheries Service (for pda/handhelds)

This is intended as a summary only. Regulations are subject to change. It is the angler's responsibility to know and abide by all current regulations, notices, and law. Please contact NMFS for regulations pertaining to Tunas, Shark, Swordfish, Billfish, Sailfish, and Marlin (http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/sfa/hms/Compliance_Guide/index.htm).

The EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone)- All waters from the seaward boundary of coastal states (3 miles from shore) out to 200 nautical miles. Maryland waters are from the shore to 3 miles.

This and the Maryland Fishing Guide are only intended as summaries. Regulations are subject to change. It is the angler's responsibility to know and abide by all current regulations, notices, and law. Please contact NMFS for regulations pertaining to Tunas, Shark, Swordfish, Billfish, Sailfish, and Marlin.

Species

Gear Type

Season

Sizes

Limits

Comments

CoastalAmerican Eel

Eel pot

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

6'' or greater

25/person/day

If pot mesh is With a recreational crab license-10 pots for bait for personal use.

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:48:54 AM.

FreshwaterAmerican Eel

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

6'' or greater

25/person/day
25 possession

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:48:55 AM.

TidalAmerican Eel

Eel pot

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

6'' or greater

25/person/day

If pot mesh With a recreational crab license-10 pots for bait for personal use.

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:48:57 AM.

CoastalAmerican or Hickory Shad

[SEASON CLOSED] -

Harvest Prohibited

Last updated on 10/4/2012 1:05:10 PM.

FreshwaterAmerican or Hickory Shad

[SEASON CLOSED] -

Harvest Prohibited

Last updated on 10/4/2012 1:05:42 PM.

TidalAmerican or Hickory Shad

[SEASON CLOSED] -

Harvest Prohibited

Last updated on 10/4/2012 1:06:07 PM.

FreshwaterBivalves/Shellfish

[SEASON CLOSED] -

Harvest Prohibited

Last updated on 10/4/2012 1:07:10 PM.

CoastalBlack Drum

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015Mon thru Sun

16'' or greater

1/person/day and not more than 6/boat/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:48:59 AM.

TidalBlack Drum

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

16'' or greater

1/person/day and not more than 6/boat/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:48:59 AM.

CoastalBlack Sea Bass

Hook & Line

5/15/2015 - 9/18/2015

12 1/2" or greater

15/person/day

Last updated on 5/29/2013 1:40:25 PM.

CoastalBlack Sea Bass

Hook & Line

10/18/2015 - 12/31/2015

12 1/2" or greater

15/person/day

Last updated on 5/29/2013 1:44:31 PM.

TidalBlack Sea Bass

Hook & Line

5/20/2015 - 10/14/2015

12 1/2" or greater

20/person/day

Last updated on 5/29/2013 1:41:10 PM.

TidalBlack Sea Bass

Hook & Line

11/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

12 1/2" or greater

20/person/day

Last updated on 5/29/2013 1:45:11 PM.

TidalBlue Crab (Hard)

Trap, Ring, Handline, Trotline, Dip Net, Seine, Pot (private)

4/1/2015 - 7/14/2015Wednesdays cannot use traps, rings or trotlines

5" or greater

2 dz/unlicensed person/day (from shore)
4 dz/unlicensed boat/day (regardless of the number of people on boat)
1 bu/licensee/day (max of 2 bushels from boat with 2 or more licensees)

NO female hard crabs.
A private pier owner may crab two pots off their pier (cull rings and turtle reduction devices required)
Trotline floats must have same size, shape and color.
May not set or fish a trotline, crab net ring or collapsible crab trap within 100 feet of another individual's trotline.Crabbing will be permitted on Jul 4, 2012 and Nov 21, 2012
See regulation for trotline length.

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:54:19 AM.

TidalBlue Crab (Hard)

Trap, Ring, Handline, Trotline, Dip Net, Seine, Pot (private)

7/15/2015 - 12/15/2015Wednesdays cannot use traps, rings or trotlines

5 1/4" or greater

2 dz/unlicensed person/day (from shore)
4 dz/unlicensed boat/day (regardless of the number of people on boat)
1 bu/licensee/day (max of 2 bushels from boat with 2 or more licensees)

NO female hard crabs.
A private pier owner may crab two pots off their pier (cull rings and turtle reduction devices required)
Trotline floats must have same size, shape and color.
May not set or fish a trotline, crab net ring or collapsible crab trap within 100 feet of another individual's trotline.Crabbing will be permitted on Jul 4, 2012 and Nov 21, 2012
See regulation for trotline length.

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:54:34 AM.

CoastalBlue Crab (Hard, Soft & Peeler)

Trap, Ring, Handline, Trotline, Dip Net, Seine, Pot (private)

4/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

See to Comment

1 bu (mixed)/person/day (max of 2 bushels on a vessel with 2 or more people on board)

Closure Period - March 1 through June 15
Catch and release is permitted during closed seasons
Special size provisions apply in Trophy Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass Areas- see regulation.

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:49:24 AM.

TidalLargemouth Bass

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

12"/15" See comments for details or greater

5/person/day

12" from Jun 16 thru last day of Feb
15" from Mar 1 - Jun 15

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:49:25 AM.

CoastalLobster

Hand

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

3-3/8" to 5-1/2" (see comments)

100/person/day or 500/person/trip for 5 day or longer trip.

V-notched females prohibited
Spearing prohibited
Measure from rear end of eye socket along center line of body shell to rear of the body shell
Contact National Marine Fisheries Service (978) 281-9278 for updates in EEZ

SHORE FISHING:
1/person/day of the species listed in comments
VESSEL LIMIT:
1/vessel/trip of the species listed in comments regardless of the number of people on board
IN ADDITION TO THE LIMITS ABOVE, a person may catch:
1 additional Smooth Dogfish and
1 additional Atlantic sharpnose and
1 additional Bonnethead

No finning
Head, tails and fins attached

Closure Period (applies to species with minimum fork length): May 15 - July 15

SHORE FISHING:
1/person/day of the species listed in comments
VESSEL LIMIT:
1/vessel/trip of the species listed in comments regardless of the number of people on board
IN ADDITION TO THE LIMITS ABOVE, a person may catch:
1 additional Smooth Dogfish and
1 additional Atlantic sharpnose and
1 additional Bonnethead

No finning
Head, tails and fins attached

Closure Period (applies to species with minimum fork length): May 15 - July 15

Closed Period: Charles County closed Apr 15 thru May 31
May not pierce a turtle to capture.

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:49:47 AM.

TidalSoft Clam

Rake, Tong

1/1/2015 - 4/14/2015

Sunrise to Sunset

2'' or greater

8 bu/boat/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 11:06:27 AM.

CoastalSpanish Mackerel

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

14'' or greater

15/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:50:23 AM.

TidalSpanish Mackerel

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

14'' or greater

15/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:50:30 AM.

CoastalSpiny Dogfish

Hook & Line

-

See comments or greater

See Federal Rules

See Federal Rules
Finning is prohibited

Last updated on 4/12/2011 12:45:42 PM.

CoastalSpotted Sea Trout

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

14" or greater

10/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:50:43 AM.

TidalSpotted Sea Trout

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

14" or greater

10/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:50:46 AM.

CoastalStriped Bass

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

28" or greater

2/person/day
No area restrictions

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:51:05 AM.

FreshwaterStriped Bass

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

18" to (open areas only)

CLOSED except for certain resevoirs and lakes - see regulation for fishing areas
2/person/day(only one over 30")

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:51:10 AM.

TidalStriped Bass

Hook & Line

3/1/2015 - 5/3/2015

CATCH AND to RELEASE ONLY

Susquehanna Flats, upstream of a line from Sandy Point to Turkey Point and the Susquehanna River downstream from a line connecting the Susquehanna State Park Boat Ramp in Lapidum to Twin Rocks to Tomes Wharf in Port Deposit; and Northeast River.

No eels
No stinger hooks
Barbless hooks when trolling
Circle hooks or J hooks (less than 1/2") when using bait
6 lines or less when trolling, regardless of the number of people on board View Map

In aggregate
2/person/day (except as provided in special regulation)
Put-and-Take areas - 5/person/day; check closures and stocking schedules for Put-and Take Areas

See regulation for closure information.

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:51:20 AM.

FreshwaterWalleye

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

15" (see comment for exception) or greater

5/person/day

No closed season, except a closed season on Deep Creek Lake and the Youghiogheny River downstream of the Route 42 Bridge, from March 1 through April 15Size limit exception - 20 inches maximum in the Potomac River mainstem approximately .5 miles upriver from Chain Bridge upstream to the spillway in Cumberland from Jan 1 to Apr 15

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:51:21 AM.

TidalWalleye

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

15'' or greater

5/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:51:22 AM.

CoastalWeakfish

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

13" or greater

1/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:51:24 AM.

TidalWeakfish

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

13" or greater

1/person/day

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:51:25 AM.

TidalWhite Perch

Cast Net, Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

8'' - net or greater

None

No size limit for Hook & Line

Last updated on 1/7/2013 10:51:26 AM.

FreshwaterYellow Perch

Hook & Line

1/1/2015 - 12/31/2015

9" or greater

10/person/day
No size or creel limit in reservoirs, lakes, ponds, impoundments and waters upstream of them